Appliance abuse... next on Oprah, LOL

I got this idea from a simple living book... the author pointed out that we "abuse" our appliances. Gadgets that are supposed to make our lives easier are really burning up our time because we overuse them. Her two examples: washing machine and car.

How many of you feel like laundry has overtaken your life? I was doing at least one load of laundry every single day. With kids, it just seemed like something always needed to be washed- stuff I didn't want to leave sitting around. And heck- since I was doing a load anyway, I would just throw in anything else that may or may not need washing. If I wore a pair of shorts for 4 hours, it must need washing, right? Well, it was getting crazy- I was spending way too much time doing laundry. So now I keep an oxiclean type bucket going and throw stuff in there that can't sit around unwashed for a couple of days. And I am trying not to wash everything I wear every single time I have it on for a couple of hours... just being conscious of that has really cut down on my wash time. My goal right now is two have at least 2 days per week that I don't do laundry. Then I wan to try for three, then four. I would love to get down to once week... long term goal.

And our cars- just because we have one doesn't mean we have to jump in it and go somewhere every chance we get. Paying for gas, insurance, wear and tear... all that increases when you are making tons of little trips here and there.In my neighborhood I am lucky to have a pool right down the street. It's an easy walk- maybe 3-4 minutes from my house- five tops. Yet I see my neighbors loading up their kids and driving there! Crazy. I am now trying for one "carless"day a week, hoping to go up to two soon.

What helpful appliances are stealing your time?

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

That is why I try to walk to and from the school with my kids. It is 1/2 mile there and 1/2 mile back and we are the farthest house in the neighborhood. Most people in my neighborhood drive - when it is nice weather. (Right now in the afternoon I have to pick him up as the heat index is 100+, but that won't last forever.)

I agree with the laundry thing. My dh wears things for a short time and puts them in the laundry. I gather them up every other day, put them in the dryer for 2-3 minutes and hang them up. He has yet to figure this trick out.

I have now started to walk to the post office instead of drive. I just bring a beach bag to put my packages in. (Unless I am expecting something really big)

I know you're going to laugh but I used to drive over to my friends house to go for a walk. I probably still will in the winter. I know it's crazy but I am much more motivated to walk and walk longer if I get out with a friend. Well now in the summer we take turns riding bike over to each others houses and then go on our walk. We did this years ago and quit well a month ago we finally started up again and my walks are sacred. I try like heck to get them in every night during the week.

As for laundry I go through my daughters stuff and take out her pjs at least every other week. She will change pjs every night if I don't catch her. I will ususally wear my shorts twice before washing because I will put them on after work for the evenings a couple hours at most.

I do abuse the dishwasher sometimes too. I know it's not all the way full but there isn't enough room for another meals worth of dishes so I'll spread things out a bit.

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Yes, I totally agree. I used to be nuts about doing laundry every day. Now it gets done a couple times a wekk only when there are full loads to do.

It's hard about the car thing. I wish I could walk more places, but where we live it's pretty rural. Every place I need to go isn't within walking distance. Even biking is out of the question, because I'd have to go on a busy highway. In Minnesota, it's pretty cold 1/2 of the year too, so it's even harder in the winter. Maybe I'm just making excuses. However, I have noticed I try to lump my errands into fewer trips now. It helps save both time and gas. Also, I end up shopping less so there are fewer impulse buys.

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This is an article that was in my cities free paper last week about cars:

Cars are really expensive a decent one $20,000.00 drive it for 5 yrs and w/ a $2,000.00 residual value you're paying $3,600.00 per yr for the car. Add maintance of up to $850.00 per yr. Insurance at $800.00 per yr. $2,250.00 for 900 gallons of. $$1,000.00 per yr in finance charges or oppoutunity cost of being unable invest $20,000.00 plus parking/washing etc @ 500.00 per year. Thats $9,000.00 per year to own a car!

By contrast, a bike costs very little $100.00 per year. Maintenance $200.00. No insurance, gas no finance charges or parking. Maybe $200 for incedentals, special clothing etc. That totals $500 per year to own a bike.

Lets say you make $16 an hr after taxes about $12 an hr. Now lets assume you drive 15,000.00 miles a yr. At an average speed of 40 mph your speding 375 hrs a year driving. But dont forget it takes you many hrs of work simply to afford the $9,000.00 annual expense for a car. $9,000.00 @ 12 per hr requires 750 hrs of work. So the total time required to afford and drive your car 15,000 miles a year is about 1,125 hrs a year. No faster than the average cyclist.

Okay so perhaps its not realistic to become car-free. But consider this: Lakewood families have 2 cars. Think about how you might be able to get by with just 1 car, and put 9,000.00 a year to better use. Thats a LOT of after-tax money you can spend or save any way you want.

The 1 car family is much easier to accomplish in Lakewood than neighboring suburbs. We have neighborhood schools, dozens of stores, recreational and cultural amenties, wonderful parks easy access to public transportation and downtown Cleveland and much more all packed within a mere 5.6 miles. Lakewood took shape as a "mixed use" community back when motoering was really expensive, and as a result it just might be possible for many of us to become a "one car family" Give it some thought!
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My dh and I are a 1 family car how about where you all live is it possible?????

Leighann

Unfortunately both my dh and I work so we cannot have only 1 car. My dh leaves for work at 3:30 am and my schedule changes from day to day so there isn't even a possibility of ride sharing. We live 20 minutes from the nearest town where there are any stores at all. Our rural community has a bar, 3 churches, and 1 gas station. That's it literally. I have made every effort to go into the closest town 1 time a week only sometimes every 2 weeks. I combine errands like crazy so it may take all day to get them done. I ride share to events whenever possible. My biggest thing is taking the bike when weather permits when I'm in my little town, park, post office, milk run etc...

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as for the car we have no choice but to use it, we live out of town and dh works, and dd has swimming lessons right now and when i go to work. as for laundry, well i only do that 2 times a week.

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Kimberley

"there is nothing to worry about, just plenty to think about" from an episode of Extreme Makeover House edition

check out my blog:
http://mommysavers.com/boards/journa...owjournal&j=21

We can walk to two pools, a play ground and a pond to feed the ducks (when it's not blazing hot and humid out), so I am very glad for that. We can walk/bike to a little shopping center right close to our neighborhood... but what is in it? A dry cleaners, a sports bar, a nail salon and a Chinese restaurant. Except for the Chinese food every now and then, there is nothing there I am after- dry cleaning: no, nail salon: no, sports bar- well some nights I could really use a drink after the kids are in bed, LOL, but still no.

I would love to be in walking distance of a post office, a bagel shop, a school-like Claire's- wow that is great, Claire. Wonderful exercise for you and the kids, plus great time together.

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

That was an interesting article, also, about having only one car. I read another article recently about a woman who figured out that it was cheaper to call a taxi for all her trips out of the house than have an extra car. She did all the calculations and it really was hundreds of dollars cheaper for her every year to call a cab. It was very interesting. Don't know if I could do it- Dh works 45 minutes away, although he does carpool. We would be severely housebound, but it would keep us out of the stores!

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them